Families of British troops killed in Iraq have urged the Royal Mail to reverse its refusal to issue stamps featuring portraits of their loved ones created by artist Steve McQueen.

Turner Prize-winning McQueen produced Queen and Country, which consists of an oak cabinet containing sheets of postage stamps with the faces of 160 UK servicemen and women who died in the conflict, after being commissioned as an official war artist.

The work has been displayed around the country and goes on show at the National Portrait Gallery in London this weekend.

McQueen, who directed the acclaimed film Hunger, is campaigning for the portraits to be issued as real stamps and has spoken to Prime Minister Gordon Brown about his plans, but the Royal Mail has so far refused his proposal.

He suggested the Queen or other senior figures might be able to intervene on his behalf. “I hope she or whoever would know about it,” he said.

McQueen rejected the reasons given by the Royal Mail for not issuing the stamps.

“Every argument has been answered. They don't have, as far as I'm concerned, an argument,” he said.